Washington (CNN) – The roster of top names slated to address the U.S. Conference of Mayors next week in Washington includes Vice President Joe Biden, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg - and legendary eighties rapper MC Hammer.

Biden will speak at the opening luncheon of the mayors' group on Thursday, followed by a performance from Hammer. Other top administration officials will speak Friday, including the secretaries of transportation, labor, and health of human services. Singers John Legend and Mario are also on the schedule to perform.FULL POST

Baltimore (CNN) - Acknowledging it is out of the ordinary for city mayors to take a stand on American military policy, the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution Monday calling for an early end to the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"This is not a war resolution," said the newly elected president of the group, Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.